1999 Saab 9-5: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 157 complaints
157
Total Complaints
77,000mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
Top Issue
5
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

64,943 25th Percentile
77,000 Median Mileage
104,688 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
42
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
23
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
22
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
3
WHEELS:HUB
3
TIRES
3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
3

Severity Assessment

5
Crashes
1
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"VEHICLE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WITH A/C ON. DEFECT HAS OCCURRED 6 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. *AK"
"PARKING BRAKES FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONE INCIDENT RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WHEN VEHICLE ROLLED INTO OBJECTS. *MJS"
"MY SAAB WAS TOTALLED ON 11/15/99 BECAUSE IT BEGAN TO ROLL FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN I MADE A QUICK LANE CHANGE. THIS ROLLING HAD HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS BUT I MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL BOTH TIMES. THE LAST TIME I WAS NOT SO LUCKY. I H"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28